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Advantages And Disadvantages Of Canada's Health Care System

Decent Essays

The Commonwealth Fund (2017) states that Canada's health care system is a group of socialized health insurance plans that provide coverage to all Canadian citizens. Almost every Canadian citizen is entitled to free healthcare regardless of income or pre-existing conditions. Some exceptions include undocumented immigrants, people with expired VISAs, and those who “enter the country ‘illegally,’ are not covered by any federal or provincial program, although provinces and territories provide some limited services” (The Commonwealth Fund, 2017). Interestingly, the most unlikely members of society such as refugees and inmates in federal prisons receive additional health benefits (The Commonwealth Fund, 2017).

Canada, as a single-payer system and …show more content…

This can certainly prevent the spread of disease and illnesses, and also injuries receiving treatment at the onset can be prevented from progressing to life-threatening conditions which are most expensive to treat. A disadvantage is while Canadians do not have co-pays for their care, the out of pocket expenses can be very expensive if a person doesn’t have supplemental or private insurance or cash to cover such special tests such as MRIs, expensive medications/prescriptions, in-home care, etc. (Canadian Health Care, 2007). One disadvantage specifically for the healthcare providers/doctors is that that make much less money than their American counterparts. For this reason, many leave Canada to work in other countries that offer higher incomes and reimbursement for their services. Skolnik (2016, p. 98) refers to this as “Brain Drain”. Any healthcare system ran by its governments inevitably is politicized. Here in the U.S., we have seen the division of its constituents and party lines due to the pros and cons of The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). Canadians who can’t afford supplemental or private insurance may not receive the best treatment, specialized care, and may have longer waiting periods for care. Without supplemental or private insurance and the cash flow, many Canadians can’t afford medical expenses that aren’t covered “. . . such as corrective lenses, …show more content…

Germany currently operates under a universal system meaning everyone has health insurance, which is mandatory as it is here in the U.S. Healthcare services and Providers are paid via 134 “sickness funds” (non-profit insurance companies) which are funded by people who work and their employers (Skolnik, 2016, p.109). In essence, no one is left without insurance, no one is left behind. Nelson (2010) further contends that 90% of the population enrolled received coverage from the sickness funds and the remaining 10% have private for-profit insurance. Only those citizens who make over $72,000 can choose to opt out of the mandatory insurance. Approximately 8% of working people incomes go to the sickness funds and are matched. If someone is no longer employed for whatever reason the government then takes over the payments, however, now a copayment may be required for services (Nelson, 2010).

According to Schmidt (2007), Germany has set in place responsibility on individual citizens for their health. This responsibility is based on the motto, “prevention before treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care” (Schmidt, 2007). The point is if a person practices behavior that can bring on sickness, diseases, or injury then they will either not receive free treatment, have to pay more for treatment or must use bonuses received from not having to use medical care for a period

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